An exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrates Ganesha as the ‘Lord of New Beginnings’
This is the third rotation of the exhibition that was first held from November 2022 to June 2023. It is on till January 2026.
Seated Ganesha. (Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Klejman, 1964) While the 10-day festivities that accompany Ganesh Chaturthi see devotees pay obeisance to the deity at revered mandaps and shrines, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art too is celebrating Lord Ganesha as the “Lord of New Beginnings” through an exhibition that features 24 works across varied mediums, including sculptures, paintings, musical instruments, ritual implements and photographs. Spanning 7th to 21st century, the showcase includes depictions from across the Indian subcontinent, including the Himalayas and Southeast Asia.
“Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is a Brahmanical (Hindu) deity known to clear a path to the gods and remove obstacles in everyday life. He is loved by his devotees (bhakti) for his many traits, including his insatiable appetite for sweet cakes and his role as a dispenser of magic, surprise, and laughter. However, Ganesha is also the lord of ganas (nature deities) and can take on a fearsome aspect in this guise,” says a note accompanying the exhibition.
This is the third rotation of the exhibition that was first held from November 2022 to June 2023. It is on till January 2026.
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Some of the highlights include 18th-19th century ‘Ganesha Ritual Lamp’ in copper from Nepal — with Ganesha seated on a multi-tier lotus pedestal under a cobra, holding an oil lamp, a battle axe and a noose, representing his role as a saviour and protector.
A fragment of 6th-7th century stucco sculpture comes from Xinjiang (China). A note elaborates: “The presence of a Hindu deity in a mostly Buddhist kingdom reveals how the religion spread along trade routes. For travellers traversing the long and arduous Silk Road, how appropriate to pay homage to this remover of obstacles and bringer of wealth and abundance.”
Ganesha Leads Shiva and Durga in Procession. (Credit: Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund, 2004)
Among the wall works, an 18th–19th century sketch from Tuvdun appears to be a preliminary drawing for a thangka painting. A 1775–1800 watercolour has Ganesha “as part of a family narrative”. The elephant-headed god is seen with Shiva as an ascetic, his wife, Parvati, his son Skanda, his vahan (vehicle) peacock, and a tiger and Nandi bull, the vehicles of Parvati and Shiva, respectively.
In another interesting depiction, Ganesha is seen seated between peacocks on a 19th century Tambura. He is part of a scene from the epic Ramayana, when Rama and Sita return to the city of Ayodhya.
The note on the museum website adds: “The exhibition emphasises the vitality and exuberance of Ganesha as the bringer of new beginnings.
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